ABI to allow unix binaries to run under Linux

[Andy <list@firman.us>]

There is a program I would like to run on Debian but this program only 
officially supports RedHat Linux.  (Synchronics CounterPoint)

The manual states:
"The new ABI module included in RedHat 7.3 allows............<snip>
add the following to /etc/rd.local: insmod abi-util, lcall7, abi-srv4.....
binfmt_coff, binfmt_xout, binfmt_aout, etc..."

I found this:
http://pcunix.com/Linux/linuxabi.html
along with this:
http://linux-abi.sourceforge.net/

They recommend using a vanilla kernel but I tried anyway with my Debian 3.0 
box and installed the patch and compiled the kernel using make-kpkg and got 
the following errors:

See <URL:http://gcc.gnu.org/bugs.html> for instructions.
make[3]: *** [sysi86.o] Error 1
make[3]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18/abi/svr4'
make[2]: *** [_modsubdir_svr4] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18/abi'
make[1]: *** [_mod_abi] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.18'
make: *** [stamp-build] Error 2

That is probably why they recommend using a vanilla kernel.

Just wondering, before I venture away from the debian-way, if anyone has some 
advice for me?  Any way I can do this with debian's kernel-package system?

Thanks,
Andy